Adaptive column rendering

Abstract

A system and method for rendering web page column widths in an adaptive manner for display on an electronic device. The system and method can display individual columns of a web page in a zoom-in view and can display web pages with multiple columns in a zoom-out view. Columns are adaptively rendered such that text in the columns is readable after zooming-in on the column. The system and method avoids the need for side-to-side scrolling of a column displayed in a zoom-in view and minimizes column narrowing.

1 . A method for displaying web page content on an electronic device, the web page content including at least one column of text, comprising:
 calculating a zoom factor for the at least one column;   determining a text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor;   comparing the determined text size to a reference text size; and   changing a column width of the at least one column if the determined text size is less than the reference text size.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the column width of the at least one column includes narrowing the column width until the determined text size is greater than or equal to the reference text size, including:
 re-calculating the zoom factor for the at least one column;   re-determining the text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor; and   re-comparing the determined text size to the reference text size.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor includes searching for a smallest font in the at least one column of text and using the smallest font to determine the text size. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising displaying the web page content in a zoomed-out view, wherein a plurality of columns of text are viewable on a screen of the electronic device. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising displaying the at least one column of text in a zoomed-in view based on the zoom factor. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the screen is a display of a mobile radio terminal. 
   
   
       7 . A program that displays web page content on an electronic device, the web page content including at least one column of text, and is embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising executable logic to:
 calculate a zoom factor for the at least one column;   determine a text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor;   compare the determined text size to a reference text size; and   change a column width of the at least one column if the determined text size is less than the reference text size.   
   
   
       8 . A mobile radio terminal, comprising:
 a radio circuit for establishing calls; and   a control circuit that carries out logical instructions to display web page content on a display of the mobile radio terminal, the web page content including at least one column of text, the control circuit including:
 logic that calculates a zoom factor for the at least one column; 
 logic that determines a text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor; 
 logic that compares the determined text size to a reference text size; and 
 logic that changes a column width of the at least one column if the determined text size is less than the reference text size. 
   
   
   
       9 . The mobile radio terminal of  claim 8 , wherein logic that changes the column width of the at least one column includes logic that narrows the column width until the determined text size is greater than or equal to the reference text size, including:
 logic that re-calculates the zoom factor for the at least one column;   logic that re-determines the text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor; and   logic that re-compares the determined text size to the reference text size.   
   
   
       10 . The mobile radio terminal of  claim 9 , wherein logic that determines the text size in the at least one column based on the zoom factor includes logic that searches for a smallest font in the at least one column of text and logic that uses the smallest font to determine the text size. 
   
   
       11 . The mobile radio terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuit further includes logic that displays the web page content in a zoomed-out view, wherein a plurality of columns of text are viewable on the display of the mobile radio terminal. 
   
   
       12 . The mobile radio terminal of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuit further includes logic that displays the at least one column of text in a zoomed-in view based on the zoom factor.